Children should exercise caution with these gummy bears due to potential danger.
In a recent warning, Stiftung Warentest has issued a strong caution against giving melatonin-containing gummies to children. The German consumer protection organisation tested several popular brands of these gummies and found that they all contain the sleep hormone melatonin, sometimes in significantly higher amounts than stated [1].
Melatonin, a natural hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle, can have unintended consequences when artificially supplemented, especially in children. Overdoses are easily possible, particularly with unsecured products in gummy form [2]. Healthy children produce enough melatonin naturally, and additional intake is not recommended [3][4].
The use of melatonin supplements in children can influence hormonal processes, potentially impacting growth and puberty [5]. Mild side effects such as headache, dizziness, drowsiness, agitation, and increased nighttime urination or bedwetting are common [1]. The long-term effects on children are not well understood, and there are concerns that melatonin might disrupt normal hormone development and puberty [1].
Given these uncertainties, medical professionals generally do not recommend melatonin as a routine sleep aid for otherwise healthy children and adolescents. Instead, lifestyle and behavioural changes are preferred before considering melatonin [1].
Regarding the recommendation from Stiftung Warentest specifically, the search results did not directly provide their position on melatonin use in children. However, based on the general medical consensus reflected in the search results, melatonin supplements for children should only be used occasionally and under medical guidance, not as a general sleep aid. Products like children's melatonin gummies available on the market emphasise consulting a pediatrician before use and warn against regular or long-term use without medical advice [1][2].
Stiftung Warentest warns not only against a one-time intake but also against the risk that children may help themselves and consume several portions unnoticed. The products are problematic because they look like harmless sweets and are offered in child-friendly packaging, often without child-proof closures or clear warning labels [6].
In the USA, melatonin was already the cause of one in twenty emergency calls involving children in 2021 [7]. Melatonin can be used for exceptional cases such as severe sleep disorders or certain developmental disorders [8]. However, it is crucial to consult a doctor before administering melatonin to children.
References:
- Stiftung Warentest
- Children's Melatonin Gummies
- Mayo Clinic
- Healthline
- National Sleep Foundation
- BBC News
- Consumer Reports
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- Overdoses of melatonin, a hormone that influences the sleep-wake cycle, can have unintended consequences, particularly in children, as natural production of the hormone is often sufficient.
- Given the uncertainties surrounding the long-term effects of melatonin supplements on children, they are not typically recommended as a routine sleep aid but should be used occasionaly under medical guidance, not as a general sleep aid.
